Chapter 11

"Ed?" I turn around, recognizing that distinct, slightly nazzly tone.

A tall, slender man with dark hair, brown eyes, and an ever-enthusiastic smile steps out of the shadows, "So...our paths cross once more."

After all I've been through in these past couple of days, or even in the few years we've been apart, it's good to finally see something familiar. I smile, "So they have."

He turns around, pointing to the alley he stepped out of, "Check this out. I was taking a walk when I discovered this."

That's Ed, formalities always seem to elude him. I follow him into the alley, and with a he points to the stained brick wall of an apartment building, "...what do you see?"

I scratch my chin, "I see, the side wall of an apartment...the stain, judging by the poignantly rust-like smell in the air, I'd say that's blood-"

"And it's fresh." Ed points out.

"And it's quite large as well, notice the contours of the stain. Not counting the places where the blood has dripped down, it appears to have the same outlines of a human being."

Ed nods, "My conclusion exactly. But here's the question: where's the body?"

I look down at our feet, "No blood trail. Nothing to follow."

"Ah, but that's where you're wrong Natalie. You notice how it was raining just earlier today? Well, if there were footsteps, umbrellas, or anything that could contract and then release water anywhere in this area, their feet will have redistributed the rainwater, hence, leaving a thin trail for us to follow."

I put my hands on my hips, "That sounds highly theoretical."

"But that's what's so wonderful about theories: they're meant to be tested!" Ed exclaims. He looks down at the mostly dry ground, but in the three way intersection of the alley, there's one path that still has trails of water on it, "Bingo."

We start following the trail of water, leading into the labyrinth of alleyways located in practically all of Gotham's streets. The dark buildings tower over us, and the various fire-escapes and clothing lines further block out any hint of sunshine.

"So Ed, what have you been up to lately?" I ask him. Normal conversation with him is rather awkward, it's the mysteries, the detective work he lives for, but I could hardly call myself the normal one out of the two of us.

"Well, I graduated from GothamU last year with masters in forensic science and criminology, and I just got a job working for the GCPD as a coroner." he reveals, adjusting his thick-framed glasses.

"Hey, that sounds great Ed, although, the GCPD is a...weird choice. You looking to get rich off of bribes or something?"

"I feel that I could of great use to them. That department is starved of intelligent minds, and they're in desperate need of those with the brains capable of leading them into the future." he explains, his tone reverent and almost theatrical.

I smirk, "Well, if that's how you feel, Ed-"

"What about you? What have you been up to these past years?" he asks, as we turn the corner, continuing to follow the trail.

I look down at the trail, and see small specks of red blood mixed in with the water, he might be on to something.

"Not much really. I never ended up finishing college." I confess.

Ed gasps, and his expressive eyes all but bulged out of their sockets, "What?! How very uncharacteristic of you, tell me, what has led to this change?"

Can I tell him about my work with the CIA? Ed doesn't like secrets, he knows basically everything about me, and visa versa, "I don't know, guess my heart wasn't in it." I lie.

He twists his lips, pulling out a black pen from the front pocket of his dark blue jacket. He toys with the pen, twirling it around in various directions, he clearly doesn't believe me if he's pulling out the pen,

"Some use me, while others do not.

Some remember, while others have forgot.

For profit and gain I'm used expertly, I can't be picked off the ground or tossed in the sea.

Only gained through patience and time, can you unravel my rhyme?"

I smile, he's used this one on me before, "Knowledge."

He smiles back, but continues to twist his pen in his hands, "Yes Natalie, knowledge is the primary thing I seek in life, and to not know something about my oldest and most dear friend...well…" there's a strange glimmer in his eye, but his grin remains, "You'd see why this upsets me?"

"This isn't a game this time, Ed, I really can't tell you."

His gleeful expression fades, "I see...well then…"

The reach a dead end in the alley, where, behind a dumpster, a lifeless body of a man in a sharp suit lies. Neither of us has a visible reaction, but we glance at each other, silently deciding who should speak first.

"An unceremonial burial, to say the least. He's in a suit, so this either has to be mob related-"

I roll my eyes, "Ed, this is Gotham, a lot of men still wear suits on a regular basis. He could be anyone."

"Then why would the assailants go through the trouble of hiding the body? Most muggers simply flee the scene, these guys knew what they were doing."

I nod, "Alright, well Mr. GCPD, are you going to call this in?"

"I suppose so, but since I am on my off-hours, they won't let me analyze him further. Trust me, I've tried."

Analyze? Hmm...this gives me an idea, "Hey Ed, I have something, an investigation, I could use your help on."

His head perks up, "What's the case?"

"Well, when I arrived back at Gotham, I rented out a motel room in Southside, the trouble is, it burnt after a night of me staying there. I have a feeling that the fire was intentional, but I can't be certain until I investigate the scene. I was on my way there when I ran into you."

"That does sound suspicious, but, who would want to burn down you place of residence? Natalie...are you in some kind of trouble?" he asks worriedly.

"No Ed, I'm fine. Who knows, it could've just been a play to collect insurance money or something. It just...doesn't feel right is all."

He puts his pen back in his pocket, "Alright, I'll assist you, but be aware that I will solve this enigma eventually. It is in my namesake, after all."

I chuckle, "That is an...oddly appropriate name for you."

"If only you weren't the only to notice." he grins at her.

We reach the burnt down complex within minutes. The building's structure still stands, but small, individual chunks of it have already begun to crumble. I try the doors, and find them wide open, guess the owner forgot to lock up. We enter, and see that the graffiti artists have already gone to work, spray paintings of crude signatures lie all around the lobby. Ed and I check all the obvious spots where the fire could've started, the kitchen, the fireplace in the lobby, the heating system in the basement, but nothing seems to hold the source of the fire. But then, just as we're about to give up, I get a sickening hunch,

"Ed, I have one more place I think we should check." I tell him.

"Yes Natalie, this heating system is very antiquated, even for Gotha-...what did you say?" he asks, looking up from examining the piping of the heating system. Usually he can predict my responses, or even my interjections, but not this time.

"Follow me." I instruct, climbing the narrow staircase leading out of the basement.

We reach the motel's second floor, where I run up to the room I was in. I try the door, but then realize that I'd lost the motel key sometime before the fire happened. Figuring the door's security has been weakened by the fire, I stand back, and kick the door open.

"What, no bobby pins?" Ed asks disappointedly.

I shrug, "Don't have any on me."

Looking over my shoulder, Ed notices something immediately, and gently pushing me aside, shuffles to a peculiar spot in the middle of the room, "Natalie, check this out!"

I rush to meet him as he gets down on one knee and lowers his glasses, "This is it...this is definitely the origin of the fire." he concludes, pointing to the spot on the ground. He takes out a pair of black gloves and stretching them on, picks up the remains of a small match, "Someone must have thrown this into the room, judging by the angle." he smiles, "Good, we've established a location. Tell me Natalie, how did you know the fire was started here?"

"I...I didn't." I confess, "This...this was my room."

His smile vanishes as the realization also comes about him. He places the match back on the ground, "C'mon, we need to get you out of here." he takes off his gloves, and placing one hand on my shoulder and one on my back, he leads me out of the building.

As we leave the building, a familiar man shouts, "Hey you!" I turn around, and recognize the man as the guy who checked me in at the hotel.

"Oh, hey." I greet, as Ed takes his hands off of me.

"You're the girl who saved those kids, right?" he asks.

I nod slowly, and his expression brims, "Good for you, those boys were regular residents in that old apartment. Would've been terrible if anything had happened to them, thank you so much."

"No...no problem." I reply awkwardly.

"Say, it's a good thing you checked you out of there right before the fire." he mentions.

I arch my head back in surprise, "I did?"

He reaches into his pocket and takes out my motel room key, "Yeah, your friend said he was checking out for you, he gave me your key. Had your stuff and everything."

I freeze in both terror and revelation, "My...my friend?"

"Yeah, the guy with the emo hair and fancy suit. I swear he was giving me the evil eye the whole time, like he hated me or something." he rubs his head, "Come to think of it, he checked out rightbefore the fire. That's odd…"

I begin backing away, "Oh no…"

Ed grabs my hand as I try to steady myself. That friend the man mentioned, that has to be Oswald, he started the fire...and he has my stuff too, so, does that mean he knows?

"We'll be off, have a nice day sir." Ed excuses, as he begins to pull me away.

Author's Notes: There's a poll on my profile pitting Pixie (Penguin x Trixie) against another couple from my Spider-Man fanfic. Go vote for Pixie (or if you read both stories, pick your favorite!).

Dreamweaver74: Thanks, I was particularly worried about that scene because I was worried no one would take it seriously (personally, I have trouble taking it seriously).

Fuchsia Grasshopper: It's Ed! Hehe, and don't worry, Oswald and Natalie/Trixie will have plenty of time to practice ;)

Shadow Cat Mistress: Yes, I wish Oswald would quote the Bard on the show, that would make my day (I got his interest in Shakespeare from the comics and Oswald's actor even mentioned it in an interview).

Thanks! :)